SEPTEMBER 2020
Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development Solomon Islands Country Plan Summary
Background Through a 10-year commitment, Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development (Pacific Women) connects more than 170 gender equality initiatives supported by Australia and implemented by over 160 partners across 14 Pacific Island countries. Pacific Women is one of the largest global commitments to gender equality. It partners with governments, local and international non-government organisations (NGOs), private sector, disabled people’s organisations, coalitions and others to improve the political, economic and social opportunities of Pacific women and to end violence against women and girls. Its emphasis is on partnerships and locally-driven development. Providing technical, knowledge sharing and convening support to the portfolio of partners is Pacific Women’s Support Unit, working to improve the long-term impact of gender equality projects in the Pacific. The Support Unit’s office is in Suva, Fiji, with a sub-office in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Pacific Women was announced at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting in August 2012. It commits up to AUD320 million over 10 years in 14 Pacific Islands Forum member countries. Pacific Women initiatives respond to the commitments in the 2012 Pacific Leaders’ Gender Equality Declaration, while also supporting Australia’s Pacific Step-up and its Partnerships for Recovery approach of working together with Pacific partners to address COVID-19 impacts on women, girls and their communities. The outcomes sought through Pacific Women are: ▪ Ending Violence against Women: Violence against women is reduced and survivors of violence have access to support services and to justice. ▪ Economic Empowerment: Women have expanded economic opportunities to earn an income and accumulate economic assets. ▪ Leadership and Decision Making: Women, and women’s interests, are increasingly and effectively represented and visible through leadership at all levels of decision making. ▪ Enhancing Agency: Women in the Pacific will have a stronger sense of their own agency, supported by a changing legal and social environment and through increased access to the services they need. Since 2012, an estimated 1.22 million Pacific Island women, men and children have been able to access services and information across 14 partner countries through initiatives supported by Pacific Women.
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Solomon Islands Solomon Islands is the third largest country in the Pacific and currently ranks 156 out of 188 countries on the Human Development Index.1 Despite being resource rich, most women and men have limited access to resources and there are poor health and education outcomes and financial hardship. The Solomon Islands Government has national policies on Gender Equality and Women’s Development 2016–2020 and Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls 2016– 2020. The Solomon Islands Government launched a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security in May 2017. This is the first National Action Plan in the Pacific. Progress has been made by the Solomon Islands Government, development partners, the private sector and non- government organisations to support women and reduce inequality, but there is still significant work to be done. Pacific Women Country Plan Through Pacific Women, Australia has committed $34.8 million over 10 years (2012–2022) to advance the status of women in Solomon Islands. Country Plans are the mechanism through which Pacific Women outcomes and activities are planned and agreed between DFAT and counterpart governments, following extensive national consultations. They provide detail on what will be funded and how these funding decisions are made. The Solomon Islands Country Plan 2013–2017 identified a portfolio of activities in the areas of women’s economic empowerment and ending violence against women. In addition, it built on Australia’s partnership with the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) through support for institutional strengthening and worked to support the design and monitoring of Australian-funded programs to better respond to the needs of women and girls. An independent review of the Solomon Islands Country Plan in March 2017 found evidence of achievements in all outcome areas. Particularly noteworthy were achievements in reducing violence against women through work at the community, provincial and national levels and in mainstreaming gender equality across economic, justice, health and political sectors. The Second Country Plan is under development. The Solomon Islands Country Plan also recognises the important contribution that the Australian High Commission in Honiara makes to gender equality through mainstreaming gender outcomes in the aid program as well as through political, diplomatic and corporate activities. Rationale for the activities in the Country Plan Australia’s investment in gender equality in Solomon Islands aligns with, and responds to, Solomon Islands Government priority areas in relation to gender equality. The Solomon Islands Country Plan invests Australian funding where it will have significant impact, taking into account existing gender equality activities in Solomon Islands, building on strong relationships, capitalising on the long-term nature of Pacific Women and being open to trying new approaches and learn from them. (a) Increasing women’s leadership and decision making Women are under-represented in national and provincial level politics. The Political Parties Integrities Act 2014 introduced a 10 per cent quota for women in political parties. This offered some formal recognition by government of the need to increase the number of women in parliament. However, because political parties are not the norm in Solomon Islands and given
1 Human Development Index 2016, United Nations Development Programme, http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/SLB.
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there are exceptions allowed by the Act, this legislation is unlikely to make a substantial difference over the course of the next few national elections. Women are also under-represented in senior positions in government. In 2010, women held around 30 per cent of positions in the top three levels of government.2 A survey of Solomon Islands State Owned Enterprises found that whilst 75 per cent of them had women on their boards, women accounted for less than 15 per cent of board membership.3 Women are well represented in the leadership of civil society organisations and, in this role, have been successful in driving change. However, the National Council of Women, which provides an important function for coordinating and representing women’s organisations and provincial and ward councils of women, appears to lack the capacity to reach its potential due to a lack of financial and human resources.4 (b) Increasing economic opportunities for women Almost equal numbers of women and men in Solomon Islands are in the workforce, (62 per cent and 63 per cent respectively)5 but women in Solomon Islands earn almost half that of men.6 The Economic Intelligence Unit ranks Solomon Islands 124 out of 128 countries in terms of women’s economic opportunity.7 Out of the seven Pacific Island countries assessed, it ranks sixth, above only Papua New Guinea.8 Women work in sectors without formal work arrangements and protection and seven per cent of women are engaged in vulnerable jobs (compared with 54 per cent of men) meaning that they are more exposed to risks such as floods, drought or market fluctuations.9 Even in urban areas, women are less likely than men to be in wage jobs. More than twice the number of men than women are in paid employment,10 with men accounting for almost 75 per cent of the national income from wage jobs.11 The government’s primary strategy for increasing women’s economic empowerment is the National Strategy for the Economic Empowerment of Women and Girls 2017, which was developed with assistance from Pacific Women. The strategy focuses on the priority areas of gender mainstreaming in the resource sector, financial inclusion, support for women’s business associations, legislation for micro-banking, equal employment opportunities in the formal sector and security of land and property ownership rights for women. It also promotes applied research and knowledge sharing and institutional strengthening of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs. (c) Reducing violence against women and expanding support services The Solomon Islands Family Health and Safety Study 2009 provides a comprehensive account of the situation for women in Solomon Islands regarding their experience of family violence. It revealed that violence against women is normalised and severe, with 37 per cent of women being
2 Solomon Islands Government, 2013. CEDAW Solomon Islands initial to third periodic report, p 41. 3 Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, undated. Report on the Survey of Women’s Representation on SOE Boards in Forum Island Countries, p 9. 4 Ibid. p 12. 5 National Statistics Office, 2014. 2009 Population and Housing Census Report on Gender, Solomon Islands Government, p 65. 6 United Nations, Human Development Indicators 2015, http://hdr.undp.org/en/composite/GDI. 7 Economic Intelligence Unit, 2012. Women’s economic opportunity 2012, The Economist, p 8. 8 Ibid. p 17. 9 National Statistics Office, 2014. 2009 Population and Housing Census Report on Gender, Solomon Islands Government, p 67. 10 National Statistics Office, 2015. Solomon Islands 2012/13 Household and Income Expenditure Survey, National Analytical Report (Volume 1), Solomon Islands Government, p 68. 11 Ibid. p 40.
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sexually abused before the age of 15, most often by a male acquaintance.12 Approximately two- thirds of women aged between 15 and 49 reported having experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner.13 The Solomon Islands Government gives recognition to the need to reduce and respond to family violence through the recently updated National Policy on Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls 2016 to 2020. The policy has three guiding principles: recognition of women’s rights (including recognition of diversity and special recognition of women and girls in remote locations), partnership and recognition of international and regional commitments. It establishes five priority outcomes relating to holistic prevention strategies, legal frameworks, access to services, accountability of perpetrators and national commitment and coordination.14 The passing of the Family Protection Act 2014 and the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016 introduced a new legal environment for ending violence against women and girls in Solomon Islands. The Family Protection Act criminalises violence against family members, using a broad definition of domestic violence to include physical, emotional, sexual and economic abuse. It imposes penalties for perpetrators and gives the Magistrates’ Court and authorised justices the jurisdiction to make protection orders and interim protection orders. It also requires that police and health services aid people affected by domestic violence.15 (d) Enhancing women’s agency Acknowledging the importance of MWYCFA and valuing the partnership between the Government of Australia and the Solomon Islands, the Country Plan includes ongoing assistance to the MWYCFA. Through activities designed to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry, expected outcomes include the development of a national strategy on the economic empowerment of women and assistance to the MWYCFA as it promotes gender mainstreaming in the Solomon Islands Government in line ministries such as health and education.
12 Secretariat of the Pacific Community, 2009. Solomon Islands Family Health and Safety Study, p 87. 13 Ibid. p 3. 14 Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, undated. National Policy on Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls 2016 to 2020, Solomon Islands Government. 15 Family Protection Act 2014, http://www.paclii.org/sb/legis/num_act/fpa2014206/.
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Table 1: Bilateral Activities
PROJECT NAME DESCRIPTION BUDGET AND PARTNER
Outcome: Leadership and Decision Making
Emerging Leaders Provided training to develop the competency of individuals $159,303 Training (Australia working as emerging leaders in a range of contexts, with an (2018) Pacific Technical emphasis on developing effective relationships in the Coalition) workplace and managing operational plans.
Strengthening the Funded dedicated activities to support women candidates in $460,000 Electoral Cycle in the 2019 National elections. (2018) Solomon Islands (SECSIP) Phase II (UNDP)
Leadership Skills for Provided leadership and management training to female mid- $245,000 Women (Australia level Solomon Islands managers to enhance their leadership, (2017–2018) Pacific Technical decision making and management skills, for women working
Coalition) in civil society organisations in Malaita Province, Western Province and Honiara.
Outcome: Economic Empowerment
Empowering Women Engaged with the private sector to address gender $2,445,074 is Smart Business inequalities in the labour market. Improved business (2016–2019) (Waka Mere) performance and employment outcomes by creating more (International Finance gender-responsive workplaces for women in the private Corporation) sector.
Innovative Researched the constraints to, and effective measures for, $200,100 Approaches to increasing women's participation and productivity in (2016–2018) Increasing Women’s agricultural value chains. Access to Markets (World Bank Group)
Do No Harm: Researched how to support women’s economic $170,53216 Understanding the advancement without increasing their exposure to violence in (2016–2018) Relationship between Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Developed Women’s Economic guidelines for women’s economic empowerment programs. Empowerment and Violence against Women in Melanesia (Australian National University and International Women’s Development Agency)
Markets for Change Improving market governance, management, infrastructure $20,199,53317 (UN Women) and access to financial services to increase women's (2014–2019) economic empowerment. Ensuring markets are more
sustainable, accessible and safe for women vendors in Honiara, Auki and Gizo in Solomon Islands.
16 This project is supported by the regional program (2013–2016) ($8,239), Solomon Islands bilateral program (2016–2018) ($170,532) and PNG bilateral program (2014–2019) ($362,619). 17 This project is supported by the regional program ($11,289,510), Solomon Islands bilateral program ($1,280,946), Fiji bilateral program ($4,200,000) and Vanuatu bilateral program ($3,429,077).
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PROJECT NAME DESCRIPTION BUDGET AND PARTNER
Support to Solomon Supported the Solomon Islands Women in Business $719,552 Islands Women in Association, as the key representative organisation for (2014–2018) Business Association women in formal and informal business, to promote, develop (Solomon Islands and empower women’s participation in the private sector. Women in Business Association)
Outcome: Ending Violence against Women
Pacific Partnership to Ensuring women and girls who experience violence have $9,627,94818 End Violence Against access to quality essential services. (2018–2022) Women and Girls – Funding for key projects under the Pacific Partnership to End Solomon Islands (UN Violence Against Women includes the SAFENET Network Women) (Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs)
Community Channels Working with churches and community leaders to positively $3,106,000 of Hope Phase 3 transform people’s beliefs, attitudes and behaviours (2018–2022) (World Vision regarding gender relations to reduce violence against Solomon Islands) women.
Responding to Providing core funding, technical support and capacity $2,950,000 violence against building to the Christian Care Centre and Family Support (2017–2020) women in Solomon Centre, two key organisations providing emergency shelter, Islands (International first aid, counselling and legal advice services to survivors of Women’s violence. Development Agency)
Red Cardim Vaelens Worked with selected sports clubs in Honiara and Auki to $557,810 (Live & Learn address gender-based violence through sports. (2015–2017) Solomon Islands)
Youth alcohol and Worked with young people to address causes of gender- $800,000 violence reduction based violence. (2015–2017) against women and
children (Save the Children)
Let’s Make our Supporting existing and new community level action to $4,000,000 Families Safe (Oxfam prevent violence from happening in the home. Helping to (2019–2022) Solomon Islands) establish coalitions between the civil society groups, services providers, churches and government agencies that are working to prevent family violence.
18 This project is supported by the regional program ($7,627,948 - not for Solomon Islands alone but for multiple countries under the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls) and Solomon Islands bilateral program ($200,000).
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PROJECT NAME DESCRIPTION BUDGET AND PARTNER
Let’s Make our Supported existing and new community level action to $5,536,137 Families Safe prevent violence from happening in the home. Helped to (2014–2018) (Solomon Islands establish coalitions between the civil society groups, services National Council of providers, churches and government agencies that are Women, Vois Blong working to prevent family violence. Mere, International Women’s Development Agency, Pacific Leadership Program, Oxfam Australia, IOD PARC)
Channels of Hope for Worked with churches and community leaders to positively $2,880,000 Gender (World Vision transform people’s beliefs, attitudes and behaviours (2013–2018) Solomon Islands) regarding gender relations to reduce violence against women in 30 communities across two providence.
Christian Care Centre Supported a workshop to develop a five-year strategic plan. $8,575 (Christian Care (2013) Centre)
Outcome: Enhancing Agency
Pacific Girl: Girls Rise Developing the confidence, skills and knowledge of at-risk $588,85519 Up! (Young Women’s girls and establishing supportive peer networks in Solomon (2019–2022) Christian Association Islands. Educating service providers to better support the (YWCA) of Solomon target groups of girls, including girls with disabilities, sex Islands in partnership workers and girls living on the street. with CARE International)
Gender Equality Supporting the Women’s Development Division in the $1,837,558 Program Support Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs to (2016–2020) (Solomon Islands progress outcomes in accordance with its Gender Equality Resource Facility) and Women’s Development Policy, Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls Policy and the National Action Plan in Women, Peace and Security.
Social Development Provided technical assistance through a Social Development $200,000 Adviser (Consultant) Adviser who worked with DFAT staff to improve gender (2014) considerations in planning, programming, monitoring and
learning of all Australian-funded aid programs in Solomon Islands.
Recognising shared Strengthened the capacity of Ministry of Women, Youth, $450,827 interests of Australia Children and Family Affairs to progress priority outcomes in (2013–2016) and Solomon Islands accordance with its Gender Equality and Women’s
in the advancement of Development Policy, the Ending Violence Against Women gender equality Policy and the Women, Peace and Security National Action (Ministry of Women, Plan. Youth, Children and Family Affairs)
19 The regional program, through Pacific Girl, supports this project.
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Table 2: Regional Programs with Activities in Solomon Islands PROJECT NAME AND DESRIPTION BUDGET20 PARTNER
Outcome: Leadership and Decision Making
Strengthening Diverse Ensuring diverse Pacific women’s voices provide leadership in $895,000 Women’s Leadership in disaster planning and response through a coalition approach. (2018–2021) Humanitarian Action Supporting diverse women leaders to engage in disaster (Shifting the Power coordination mechanisms and influence decision making. Coalition: ActionAid Documenting needs and capacities in crises. Establishing Australia, platforms to strengthen diverse Pacific women’s voices to femLINKpacific, Pacific influence policy and decision making. Disability Forum, Nazareth Centre, Transcend Oceania, Talitha Project, YWCA PNG, YWCA Samoa, Vanuatu Young Women for Change, Vois Blong Mere, ActionAid Vanuatu)
Support for Women’s Supported adaptive leadership training for women leaders and $433,963 Groups and Coalitions coalition members supported them to develop new skills and (2015–2017) (Pacific Leadership perspectives to progress initiatives, build a support base and
Program) overcome barriers to change. Contributed to research in Samoa and Solomon Islands and a CEDAW campaign in Tonga.
Pacific Women Supported building the capacity of Pacific women $2,850,037 Parliamentary parliamentarians and their staff to ensure gender equality (2013–2018) Partnerships (Australian issues are better addressed in parliament. International and Community Relations Office, Department of the House of Representatives)
Outcome: Ending Violence against Women
Pacific Partnership to Promoting gender equality and reducing violence against $9,627,94821 End Violence Against women and girls across communities and nations in the (2018–2022) Women and Girls (UN Pacific, while producing promising practices. Focusing on three Women) essential intervention areas: formal and informal education; contextualised, community-based prevention approaches; and civil society organisations’ capacity to engage with national and regional institutions and authorities. Refer to Table 1 for more information.
Gender Equality Supporting institutional transformation within churches and $1,895,451 Theology – Institutional participating organisations by challenging and shifting (2018–2021) Transformation (GET- traditional gender theologies, then reviewing church polices to IT) (UnitingWorld) align them with new gender equality theologies. Establishing procedures and response mechanisms for situations of violence that respect the rights of women and that act in accordance with protection laws.
20 This allocation is not for Solomon Islands alone but for multiple countries under Pacific Women. 21 This project is supported by the regional program ($7,627,948 - not for Solomon Islands alone but for multiple countries under the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls) and Solomon Islands bilateral program ($200,000).
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PROJECT NAME AND DESRIPTION BUDGET20 PARTNER
Fiji Women’s Crisis Funding the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre’s regional activities, $2,250,000 Centre Programs to including: the Regional Training Program; the Male Advocates (2016–2021) Eliminate Violence Program; and the Pacific Women’s Network Against Violence against Women in Fiji Against Women. and the Pacific (Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre)
Support to the Pacific Supporting work on ending violence against women, human $5,750,000 Community Regional rights and good governance with Pacific Island governments (2015–2020) Rights Resource Team and civil society organisations. Providing technical assistance (The Pacific Community and training. Advocating for women and girls to have increased (SPC)) access to justice for domestic violence and to promote and protect human rights commitments.
Partnering Women for Supported work with churches to ensure that women, girls and $370,000 Change (Uniting World) people living with disabilities have increased safety and well- (2015–2018) being in their homes, communities and churches.
UNICEF Pacific Child Phase one (completed) worked across 14 Pacific Island $7,000,000 Protection Program Countries to strengthening protection of children from violence, (2014–2018) (UNICEF) abuse and exploitation. Phase two focusing on Kiribati, $5,000,000 Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and has three components: (2019–2022) strengthening child protection laws, policies and implementation plans; strengthening services; and promoting social behaviour change.
Pacific Fund to End Supported civil society organisations and governments to $1,500,000 Violence against prevent violence and provide services for survivors of violence, (2014–2017) Women (UN Women) including for counselling, paralegal aid, shelter and referral services. Strengthened the capacity of organisations working to end violence against women through training in advocacy, law reform, women’s human rights, community education and counselling services.
Outcome: Enhancing Agency
Pacific Girl Pacific Women's dedicated program to support adolescent $4,500,000 girls. Working with Pacific-based organisations to support (2018–2022) change in the social norms that underpin gender inequality and perpetuate discrimination against adolescent girls aged 10–19 years in the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Last Taboo: Research Researched barriers to women’s and girls’ effective menstrual $500,000 on managing management and potential impacts on their participation in (2016–2017) menstruation in the education and income generation in Fiji, Papua New Guinea
Pacific (Burnet Institute, and Solomon Islands. Water Aid, the International Women’s Development Agency)
Partnerships for Health Supporting the expansion of access to sexual and reproductive $3,000,000 and Rights: Working for health services in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, (2015–2022) Sexual and Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu and, from phase
Reproductive Health two, Papua New Guinea. and Rights for all in the Pacific (International Planned Parenthood Federation)
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PROJECT NAME AND DESRIPTION BUDGET20 PARTNER
Gender Equality and Raised awareness of the nexus between gender equality and $500,000 Climate Change in the climate change. Generated more informed decision making in (2015–2017) Pacific (The Protection this space to ensure women’s voices influence decision and Pacific (ProPa) making, and that climate agreements are implemented in a Network) gender-responsive way in the Pacific.
Progressing Gender Phase one (completed) conducted stocktakes of Pacific Island $3,941,712 Equality in the Pacific governments' capacity to integrate gender equality and (2013–2018) (The Pacific Community women’s empowerment into policies, legislation and programs $5,494,203 (SPC)) and strengthened the collection and analysis of data to better (2019–2023) track outcomes. Phase two is supporting Pacific Island countries to adopt evidence-informed policies and legislation that promote gender equality and women’s human rights.
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